System And Method For Interfacing Graphical Information With An Information Handling System Wireless Transceiver

ABSTRACT

Wireless communication of display information between an information handling system and display is supported by a direct connection between a graphics system of the information handling system and a transceiver of the information handling system. For example, the graphics system outputs pixel level display information through a cable directly to the transceiver. A converter on the transceiver converts the display information to network information, such as from a DisplayPort format to a PCI Express format, so the transceiver can send the display information through a wireless network, such as a personal area network, to the display. A display module located at the transceiver coordinates initiation of communication of display information from the graphics system to the display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of informationhandling system networks, and more particularly to a system and methodfor interfacing graphical information with an information handlingsystem wireless transceiver.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

A typical desktop information handling system typically interacts with avariety of peripheral devices, such as a keyboard, display, speakers, aprinter, a scanner, a camera, external drives, etc. . . . Portableinformation handling systems also interact with the same types ofperipherals, sometimes directly and sometimes through a “cradle” device.Often cable connections to peripherals create a confusing and unsightlymess. One solution that reduces or eliminates the need for cables is theuse of a personal area network (PAN) supported with high bandwidthtransceivers, such as Ultrawide band (UWB) radio technology or 60 GHzradio technology. A PAN typically uses short range wirelesscommunication, such as around 3 to 60 GHz, that has a relatively largebandwidth so that peripherals, typically located within a closeproximity of the information handling system, communicate with theinformation handling system wirelessly instead of through cables.Currently, high bandwidth transceivers, such as UWB radio technology,supports bandwidth of approximately 480 Mbs, however, recent advanceshave made speeds in the Gbs range achievable. As bandwidth hasincreased, wireless connections between information handling systems anddisplays have become possible.

A difficulty with using a wireless PAN to interface a monitor and aninformation handling system is that presentation of visual informationat high resolution displays typically requires considerable bandwidth,usually through a dedicated cable, such as a VGA, DVI, HDMI orDisplayPort cable. To address this difficulty, a WirelessHD industrygroup has recently formed to attempt to standardize 60 GHz millimeterwave technology for short range wireless HDTV connectivity. Other groupshave sought to extend UWB technology into multiple spectrum band groupsbetween 3 and 15 GHz for delivery of gigabit payloads over short ranges.In order to natively drive 1080P HDTV formats, 3 Gbps of bandwidth istypically needed between the graphics processor unit (GPU) and thedisplay. Although bandwidth of 3 Gbps will support WUXGA displaymonitors, greater bandwidths are generally needed for display monitorshaving greater resolutions, such as 6 Gbps typically required to drive aWQXGA display monitor. As wireless PAN capabilities expand to bandwidthssufficient to communicate native display information, other bottlenecksmay occur. For example, communication of information from a graphicsprocessor to the wireless transceiver potentially will absorbsignificant information handling system resources. For instance, a PCIExpress lane provides 2.5 Gbps, not quite enough to support HDTVconnectivity, and the follow-on PCI Express generation 2 supports 5Gbps, not quite enough to natively drive a WQXGA display monitor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which interfaces agraphical processor and wireless transceiver to natively drive a displayover a wireless interface.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems for communicating visualinformation over a wireless interface. Display information rendered byan information handling system graphics system is communicated through adirect connection to a transceiver of the information handling systemfor transmission through a wireless network to a display.

More specifically, an information handling system graphics systemoutputs DisplayPort display information for communication to a display.A direct connection from the graphics system, such as DisplayPort cable,communicates the display information in the graphics system format to atransceiver of the information handling system. A converter at thetransceiver converts the display information to a network format, suchas PCI Express, for communication by the transceiver to a display thougha wireless network, such as a PAN. The transceiver also supports otherPAN functions, such as wireless USB or Bluetooth, for informationcommunicated to the transceiver from the chipset of the informationhandling system. A display module associated with the transceivercoordinates initiation of presentation of information at a display byretrieving the display EDID and forwarding the EDID and an outputrequest to the graphics system.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that asingle high bandwidth radio configuration is provided for an informationhandling system PAN functions, including Bluetooth, wireless USB andwireless display. A cross over cable connection between the graphicssystem and the transceiver enables wireless display capability fordesktop or portable information handling systems. For example, aDisplayPort link layer associated with the graphics system efficientlysupports either a wired or wireless connection through the use a singledisplay output port. The use of a common port for wired or wirelessconnections enables a faster transition time to wireless displaycapability for the graphics system. The cross over cable may beimplemented whether the DisplayPort transmitter is a discrete part orintegrated within the graphics system. Direct transceiver driver tographics drive communication is avoided, thus enabling the graphicssystem to efficiently switch output PHs based on radio connectionstatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an information handling system havinga graphics system directly connected to a transceiver;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an information handling system havinga transceiver located at the graphics system to support communication ofdisplay information;

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of a graphics system having displayinformation forwarded to a transceiver through an internal bus;

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of an information handling systemwirelessly communicating display information; and

FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram of a process for coordinatingcommunication of display information through a transceiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An information handling system communicates display information througha wireless PAN for presentation at a display. For purposes of thisdisclosure, an information handling system may include anyinstrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute,classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch,store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilizeany form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific,control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling systemmay be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any othersuitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality,and price. The information handling system may include random accessmemory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/orother types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of theinformation handling system may include one or more disk drives, one ormore network ports for communicating with external devices as well asvarious input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, anda video display. The information handling system may also include one ormore buses operable to transmit communications between the varioushardware components.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram depicts an information handlingsystem 10 having a graphics system 12 directly connected to atransceiver 14. Information handling system 10 has plural processingcomponents that cooperate to generate visual information forpresentation at a display, such as a CPU 16, RAM 18, hard disk drive(HDD) 20 and chipset 22. Information communicated to chipset 22 isforwarded to graphics system 12 through a north bridge 24 and totransceiver 14 through a south bridge 26, such as through a PCI Expresslink 28. Graphics system 12 has a graphics processor unit (GPU) 30 thatrenders the visual information into display information that quantifiespixel values for presentation of visual images at a display. GPU 30provides the pixel value display information to a DisplayPorttransmitter 32 having a link 36 and physical interfaces 38 that transmitthe display information to a display, such as through a port 40.Transceiver 14 is a high bandwidth transceiver, such as Ultra Wide Band(UWB) or 60 GHz transceivers, that transmit radio waves to carryinformation from south bridge 26 to wireless devices through a wirelessnetwork, such as USB devices 42 or Bluetooth devices 44, using a highbandwidth radio link layer 46 and high bandwidth PHY layer 48.

In order to wirelessly transmit display information from DisplayPorttransmitter 32 to a display 50, PHY 38 of DisplayPort transmitter 32couples directly to transceiver 14 through a PHY 52, such as through aDisplayPort cable 54. The direct connection provided by cable 54communicates pixel level information in the DisplayPort packets withoutprocessing between PHY 38 and PHY 52 so that no latency is introduced bythe communication of the display information from graphics system 12 totransceiver 14. At transceiver 14, the display information passes fromPHY 52 to a converter 54 for conversion to the network format used bythe high bandwidth transceiver PAN, such as PCI Express. Once convertedto the PCI Express format, the display information proceeds to a PCIExpress switch 56 for communication to display 50. A display module 58included with transceiver 14 coordinates the initiation of wirelesscommunication between display 50 and graphics system 12, such as byacting as an intermediary between graphics system 12 and display 50. Forexample, display module 58 monitors the wireless network to determinewhen a display 50 interfaces with the network, gathers EDID informationfor the display to receive display information, and provides the EDIDinformation and an output request to graphics system 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts an information handlingsystem 10 having a transceiver 60 located at the graphics system 12 tosupport wireless communication of display information. DisplayPorttransmitter 32 receives display information rendered by GPU 30 andforwards the display information in DisplayPort packets to a converter54. Converter 54 converts the display information from the format usedby graphics system 12, such as DisplayPort packets, to a format used bythe high bandwidth transceiver PAN interfaced with a display 50, such asPCI Express. The converted display information is forwarded to atransceiver 60 included in graphics system 12, which communicates thedisplay information through the high bandwidth transceiver PAN todisplay 50. Communication between graphics system 12 and display 50 iscoordinated with display module 58. A separate transceiver 14 supports aseparate high bandwidth transceiver PAN to communicate with USB devices42 and Bluetooth devices 44. Integration of a transceiver 60 withingraphics system 12 supports wireless communication of displayinformation without introducing substantial latency, however, the use ofseparate transceivers 60 and 14 tends to increase the cost of thesystem. In one embodiment, this difficulty is addressed by having asingle transceiver integrated with the graphics system that also acceptsother PAN information, such as USB or Bluetooth. For example, USB orBluetooth information is sent through the chipset and GPU forcommunication to wireless devices with the transceiver integrated intothe graphics system. Alternatively, a direct connection communicates theUSB or Bluetooth information from their source to the graphics systemtransceiver.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram depicts a graphics system 12having display information forwarded to a transceiver through aninternal bus. When wireless communication of display information isdesired, GPU 30 generates the display information for transfer to link36 and PHY 38. At PHY 38, the display information is provided toconverter 54 for conversion from the graphics format, such asDisplayPort packets, to the wireless network format, such as PCIExpress. The converted display information proceeds back through GPU 30for communication through internal links of the information handlingsystem to a transceiver for communication to a display. Transfer ofdisplay information to the transceiver through the information handlingsystem chipset eliminates the need for a cable connection as depicted byFIG. 1 or a dedicated graphics system transceiver as depicted by FIG. 2;however, this introduces additional processing of the displayinformation at the GPU and chipset that creates bandwidth and latencydemands on internal link components, such as the chipset and the PCIExpress link used to transfer information from GPU 30 to transceiver 14.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram depicts an information handlingsystem 10 wirelessly communicating display information. Graphics system12 communicates the display information to a transceiver 14 forcommunication over a PAN. Transceiver 14 operates under the managementof a driver 62 for an operating system 64. The display information isreceived at a transceiver 14 located at display 50 for presentation asvisual images at a display panel 66. Transceiver driver 62 coordinatesinitiation of wireless transmission of display information by requestingEDID 68 stored on display 50. Transceiver driver 62 provides EDID 68 andan output request to graphics system 12 by acting as an intermediarybetween display 50 and graphics system 12. Graphics system 12 adjuststhe display information output to the PHY associated with wirelesstransmission. The adjustment from output at a port to output totransceiver 14 may be performed through a PHY-Link port on the graphicssystem or a PHY layer to a common Link layer. With communication of EDID68 and the output request by transceiver 14, driver 62 informs operatingsystem 64 of an output transition to wireless communication of thedisplay information. Graphics system 12 transitions to wirelesscommunication of display information and the display information isforwarded by transceiver 14 to display 50.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow diagram depicts a process forcoordinating communication of display information through a transceiver.The process begins at step 70 with detection by the information handlingsystem transceiver of a display sink device interfaced though a PAN. Atstep 72, the transceiver requests and receives EDID from the displaysink device. At step 74, the transceiver provides the display EDID andan output request to the graphics system of the information handlingsystem. At step 76, the graphics system adjusts its output fortransmission to the wireless network, such as by changing from output ata cable port PHY to output at a transceiver PHY. At step 78, thetransceiver informs the operating system of the output transition towireless communication of the display information. At step 80, thegraphics system transitions to communicate the display informationthrough the internal PHY. At step 80, the transceiver communicates thegraphics system display output to the display through the wirelessnetwork for presentation of the display information at the display.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

1. An information handling system comprising: a processor operable togenerate visual information; a graphics system operable to render thevisual information into display information having a display format forpresentation at a display; a wireless transceiver operable to wirelesslytransmit the display information to a display, the wireless transceiverseparate from and distal the graphics system; a serial link directlyconnecting the graphics system and the wireless transceiver tocommunicate the display information from the graphics system to thewireless transceiver in the display format.
 1. The information handlingsystem of claim 1 wherein the serial link comprises a PHY-Link port onthe graphics system.
 2. The information handling system of claim 1wherein the serial link comprises a PHY layer to a common Link layer. 3.The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: atransceiver format for information; and a converter associated with thetransceiver and operable convert information received at the transceiverin the display format to the transceiver format.
 4. The informationhandling system of claim 4 wherein the display format comprisesDisplayPort and the transceiver format comprises PCI Express.
 5. Theinformation handling system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver isfurther operable support wireless USB.
 6. The information handlingsystem of claim 1 wherein the serial link comprises a DisplayPort cablecoupled to the graphics system and the transceiver to communicateDisplayPort packets from the graphics system to the transceiver.
 7. Theinformation handling system of claim 1 further comprising a displaymodule associated with the transceiver, the display module operable tocoordinate an interface between the graphics system and a display.
 8. Amethod for interfacing an information handling system and a display, themethod comprising: rendering display information at an informationhandling system graphics system in a display format; communicating thedisplay information through a serial link to a distally located wirelesstransceiver in the display format; and communicating the displayinformation with the wireless transceiver to a display through awireless network.
 9. The method of claim 9 wherein communicating thedisplay information through a connector further comprises communicatingthe display information directly from the graphics system to thetransceiver without additional processing of the display information.11. The method of claim 10 wherein communicating the display informationdirectly further comprises communicating the display information througha PHY-Link port on the graphics system.
 12. The method of claim 10wherein communicating the display information directly further comprisescommunicating the display information through a PHY layer to a commonLink layer.
 13. The method of claim 9 further comprising: receiving thedisplay information at the wireless transceiver in the display format;and converting the display information at the transceiver into atransceiver format.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the displayformat comprises DisplayPort and the transceiver format comprises PCIExpress.
 15. The method of claim 9 wherein communicating the displayinformation through a connector to a transceiver further comprisescommunicating the display information through a DisplayPort cable. 16.The method of claim 9 further comprising: obtaining identificationinformation from the display with the wireless transceiver; forwardingthe identification information and an output request from thetransceiver to the graphics system through an auxiliary link of theconnector; and initiating display information from the graphics systemto the transceiver in response to the identification information andoutput request.
 17. A system for communicating display informationthrough a wireless network to a display, the system comprising: agraphics system operable to render visual information to pixelinformation for presentation of images at the display; a wirelesstransceiver separate from and distal the graphics system, the wirelesstransceiver operable to communicate the pixel information through awireless interface to a display having a wireless receiver; and a cabledirectly connecting the graphics system and the wireless transceiver tocommunicate the pixel information from the graphics system to thetransceiver without processing of the pixel information between thegraphics system and the transceiver.
 18. The system of claim 17 furthercomprising a converter associated with the wireless transceiver, theconverter operable to convert the pixel information to a network format.19. The system of claim 18 wherein the cable comprises a DisplayPortcable, the pixel information comprises DisplayPort information and thenetwork format comprises PCI Expresss.
 20. The system of claim 17further comprising a display module associated with the wirelesstransceiver and operable to coordinate initiation of communication ofpixel information from the graphics system to the display.